Mothers Day; give more than just a gift

May 5, 2012 - PRLog -- Have you ever tried to gift-wrap a camel? Flock of ducks, perhaps? Neither have I.

Every year we find ourselves with occasions where we want to give a gift to someone. Whether it is for a birthday, anniversary or some of the more commercialised holidays, such as Mother's Day,
Looking for gifts that are sustainable and earth-friendly is a smart way of feeling good about remembering your loved one (Heads Up: Mothers Day is May 13th this year), as well as feeling good that you are doing your part to love the world you live in.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold. Or Good.
Did you know that operations world-wide extract gold from the Earth using cyanide? Cyanide is highly toxic - one teaspoon of 2% cyanide is enough to kill you. Cyanide left over from mining gold is stored in ponds with thin liners that have been known to break; spilling heavy-metal poison into the water, killing fish and fowl and destroying drinking water. Approximately 78% of newly mined gold EACH YEAR goes toward making jewelery.
So instead of that fancy piece of bling, I've compiled a list of alternative gift ideas that have low-impact on the earth but create a high-impact on the recipient.

Giving Gifts
Give an animal in your loved one's name with Heifer.org Gifts of livestock and training help impoverished families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. "We refer to the animals as "living loans" because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal's offspring to another family in need." Gifts are tax-deductible.

The Seva Foundation provides gifts such as seeds for crops, vision surgery and health care to women and children in need around the globe. "Our programs serve people who have been economically, politically, or otherwise marginalized. Our aim is to build a bridge of compassion between our donors and the people we serve — people around the world who have the fewest resources." All gifts are tax-deductible.

It's All About You. Me. I Mean You.
In our busy world "time" often equals "money". So go on and splurge! Set aside some of that precious time of yours to paint, draw, take photos or write a memory for your Mama. She'll appreciate it just as much as she did when you were five, and if you're food-inclined, I'm willing to bet your skills in the kitchen have improved since then and she'll welcome a home-made yummy something from you. Gifts of a personal nature generally have a lower impact on the earth, make someones day and make you look like a Super Hero, without having to squeeze yourself into a spandex suit. Unless that's your thing.

And all of us could do with a little more "me time". Provide this precious gift to your Mum in the form of a music lesson, yoga class, babysitting or dog-walking service or a membership to a museum, theatre or rock-climbing gym.

Book that hard-working lady some "me time" with an award-wining SBT Signature Massage, or, for an unforgettable journey to the divine, consider one of our Spa Rituals. You can even use our on-line booking service to reserve a special treatment to ensure your mum does not miss out.
Major Brownie Points guaranteed.

Despite the challenge some of these gifts pose as to where to put the bow, they can be a thoughtful, heartfelt gift to your Mama this Mother's Day. Or any day, you want to say "I love you. Here's a Water Buffalo".

It's ALIVE!
No, we haven't re-incarnated Frankenstein.
We've made a lovely new website with the help of Hello Viking. Take a Peek at sabaibody temple.com